Paget Marsh, Bermuda, UK Photograph by Catherine Mastny   Bernuda Tropical and Subtropical Coniferous Forests   50 square miles (100 square kilometers) -- about the size of Washington DC Critical/Endangered

· Lonely forests
· Special Features
· Did You Know?
· Wild Side
· Cause for Concern
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Lonely forests

Bermuda is located 550 miles (900 km) off the North American coast in the Atlantic Ocean, a crescent-shaped chain of limestone islands formed along the submerged rim of an ancient volcano. Islands are moderately hilly and low, with a subtropical and humid climate. A densely forested plateau harbors a number of endemic species, including the Bermuda cedar, Bermuda palmetto, and the Bermuda olivewood. Peat marshes hold wax myrtle, saw grass, and ferns.

Special Features

Bermuda contains the northernmost mangrove forests in the Atlantic, made possible by the warm Gulf Stream current. They are unusually because nearly one-third of the mangroves grow along inland saltwater ponds that maintain linkages to the sea through underwater fissures. These communities are not diverse, and normally contain only red or black mangrove. The rest of the mangroves can be found along the islandsâ coasts, in a more typical distribution.

	Bermuda passed the first conservation laws in the Americas. The Bermuda petrel was protected by 1616 and the used of Bermuda cedar regulated after 1622.

Wild Side

Because Bermuda is so isolated, endemism is high while richness is low. There are no native mammals or amphibians, and only one native reptile, the endemic Bermuda skink. But as many as 320 birds have been spotted in this ecoregion. The endemic Bermuda petrel is endangered, and nests only on a few outlying islets. Restricted to this small archipelago, all endemic species are especially vulnerable to introduced predators and alien pests. The Bermuda cedar was driven to the brink of extinction in the 1940s by the introduction of two alien insects. After the blight, only one percent of the original forest was still standing. The near-extinction of the Bermuda cedar did drive two other species to extinction: a cicada and a moth that were dependent on Bermuda cedar forests. These are only two of an estimated 16 insect species to go extinct over the last century.

Cause for Concern

Only very small areas of natural habitat remain on Bermuda today. By the end of the 17^th century settlers were clearing the native land for agriculture and introducing new animals and plants. The Bermuda petrel was hunted by settlers and introduced pigs. While Bermudaâs agricultural importance declined, it remains one of the worldâs most densely populated countries and 20 of 150 islands are currently inhabited. Half a million tourists descend on Bermuda each year. Fortunately, the islands have a well-managed and well-funded system of protected areas.

For more information on this ecoregion, go to the World Wildlife Fund Scientific Report.